A huge fire at Lancashire Enterprise Business Park in Leyland, which destroyed at least five buildings, is thought to be under control.

The fire broke out last Wednesday 21 December at around 5.00 pm in an industrial building storing tissue paper, which Paul Richardson of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, described as a “ready-made fuel for fire”.

This meant the blaze developed rapidly and over 100 firefighters, 20 fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms, a high volume pump and a mobile fire station were in attendance to try and bring it under control.

A decision was made that due to the risk of chemicals and gas canisters in some of the buildings, residents within 450m of the site would be evacuated. A number of explosions could be heard coming from the fire, which later turned out to be pressurised beer barrels, not gas canisters as first feared.

Dramatic footage of the fire, including incredible scenes of beer barrels flying into the air. Courtesy: BBC News

By around 3:30 am the next day, officers had stopped the fire spreading and were reporting that fortunately no one had been killed or injured. They warned however that the fire was likely to continue for some days.

Social networks causing panic

Lancashire Fire and Rescue service were forced to deny reports that firefighters had died in the incident.

Some websites and social networks were reporting in the early hours of the morning that at least two firefighters had lost their lives. This was quickly denied by the fire service.